Revolutionizing Air Travel: The LIFT Aircraft HEXA

Maform Design's Passenger Drone Offers a Unique Flying Experience

Current battery technology limits the flight time of passenger drones to 20-40 minutes, making it challenging to market these expensive drones as a means of personal transportation. However, Maform Design's innovative approach focuses on selling the flight experience, making it profitable to develop passenger drones in the short term. The LIFT Aircraft HEXA is designed to cater to this new market, with a design that communicates aviation innovation, fun, and reliability.

The LIFT Aircraft HEXA is an ultralight personal flying vehicle with 18 propellers, each driven by independent electric motors connected to a separate battery module. This design decision saves weight and makes the aircraft more redundant, an essential feature for safety. The open canopy design further reduces weight while enhancing the flying experience.

The drone's body is made of carbon fiber composite materials, with some joints 3D printed from titanium for extreme strength and durability with minimized weight. The aircraft measures 4.6m x 4.6m x 2m and features 18 rotors, 4+1 floats, 1 parachute, 18 separate batteries, 1 cabin, a redundant flight controller, and a joystick and tablet for navigation.

The flight experience begins with booking via a mobile app, followed by a short training session with a simulator. Once the pre-flight safety checks are completed under professional supervision, passengers are free to start their flight. They can choose between a completely automatic flight or a pilot mode, where they control the flight with a joystick. Post-flight, passengers receive flight data and on-board video through the mobile app.

The design project began in October 2017 in Budapest, and the operational aircraft was introduced in March 2019 at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, USA. The design team, including Robert Kovacs, Rita Honosi, and Peter Molnar, faced the challenge of keeping every part functional and lightweight while maintaining an innovative and distinctive look. The result is an aircraft that is easily recognizable and has a cool yet friendly look.

The LIFT Aircraft HEXA was awarded Silver in the A' Aerospace and Aircraft Design Award in 2019, a testament to its innovative design and potential to revolutionize air travel. The unique design and business model of this passenger drone could make this technology popular and successful in the market.